Improved bedstead



K. WHITNER, OF PHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA.

Letters Patent No. 87,742, daad March 9, 1869.

IMPROVE!) BEDSTEAD.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making pari: of theeamo.

manent side-rails of a bedstead, as fully described hereafter, for thepurpose of claspng the edges of the bedclothes, and thus preventingtheir disarrangement, and also to serve as guards, (which can `be madeof any desired height,).to prevent children or invalids from fallingfrom the bed.

In order to enable others to make and apply my in-` vention, I will nowproceed to describe the mode of constructing and using the'same,referenceA being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part ofthis speciiication, and in which-.-

Figure, 1 is a side view of a beds'tead with my im provement;

Figure 2, a sectional perspective view of the `same on the line 1-2,fig. 1;

Figure a detached view; and

Figures 4, 5, and 6, views showing different methods of applying myinventidn.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout th several views. v

A A represent two 'of the posts of a bedstead;

B, one of the side-rails;

O, the head-board; and

D, a portion of the usual slotted bottom, upon which rests the bed E.

'On reference to gs. 1, 2, and 3 F. is an additional rail, jointed ateach end, by open vhinges a, to the upper edge of the side-rail B, and aprecisely similar rail is hinged to the permanent rail, at the oppositeside of the bedstead,

The .hinges A are of such construction, that'when the rail F iselevated, as seen in iig. 2, its lower edge shall bear upon and compressa gum tube, or other packing, H, which -is attached to the rail B; andthe hinges are so arranged that when the rail F is turned to about theposition shown in g. 3, a considerable` space, c, shall intervenebetween it and the edge of the permanent rail.

The method of using my invention is as follows: The rail F, having'beenturned to one side, as seen in iig. 3, one .of the overhangiug edges ofthe bedclothing, I, is passed through the space c, and the rail is thenelevated, so as to clasp the clothing between its lower edge and thecompress H, as best observed in fig. 2; after which the said rail issecured at each end to the bed-posts by hooks, d, and' thus maintainedin its elevated position. I At the opposite side of the bed, theoverhanging portions of the covering are also' passed between rails, Fand B, and tightly clasped in the same manner.

It may be here remarked, that in place of ordinary hinges, (whichcontract the length of the openings through which the bed-clothes arepassed,) speciallyconstructed hinges, suchv 4as are illustrated inig. 3,and at al, in iig. -1, may, if desired, be employed for attaching themovable rails.

yThe rails F, Abesides clamping the clothes at each,l side of the bed,and thus preventing their disarrangement, serve also as guards, toprevent the occupants of the bed from falling from the same, they beingfor this purpose of especial usel for children, and in hospitals, dto.lp

In some instances, especially where the upper edges of the permanentrails lare ornamented by mouldings, Ste., it is impracticable to arrangethe movable clamping-rails, as above described.

In such cases, I employ long hinges, af, iig. 4, attached to the loweredges of the rails B, and cause the rails F to bear against the outsideof the latter, either with or without the introduction of packing. Thisplan is fully as e'ectual as that first described, and the movablerails, when not in use, can be folded beneath the bed, as'shown bydotted lines in iig. 4.

` In applying my invention-to a childs crib, the movable rails caneither form a portion of the hinged sideframes, X, as seen in g..5; or,where the frame of the crib is' fixed, each' clamping-rail can be hingedat one end, so that the other end may be raised, as shown in ii 6.

gAlthough I prefer to use gum tubing as a yielding compress, or packing,yet it will be evident that ,flat strips of gum, or other suitablematerial, can be employed, or,=where the rails fit closely together, the'packing may be altogether dispensed with.

I do not claim, broadly, hinging the side-frames, or

pieces, to the side-rails of a bedstead; but v I claim as my invention,and desire tol secure by Let ters 'Patent- 1. The combination, with theside-rails B, of a piece,`

F, so hung to the rail that the bed-clothing may be passed and securedbetween the two, as set forth.

2. So vhanging the piece'F to the side-rail, that thev said piece may beturned down and beneath the rail, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, 'I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of twoI subscribingwitnesses.

H. K. VVHITNER,'M. D.

y Witnesses: v

JOHN WHITE, WM. A. STEEL.

